The Portland daily press., 1887-08-11
THE CONSTITUTION OF 81.
Maine's Commissioner Writes Con-
corning the Coming Celebration.

To the Editor of the Press: -
For the purpose Of answering several com
munications upon the above subject, and es
pecially to call the attention Of the people Of
the State of Maine to this important event
soon to take place, ask brief space in
your columns. The Constitution of the
United States was adopted by the convention
and was transmitted to the old Congress by
George Washington, its President, Septem-
ber 18th, 1887, and the one hundredth ami
yersary of this important event it is pro-
posed to celebrate in the city Of Philadelphia,
in September next. from the 10th to the 18th
inclusively. Public attention was called
quite conspicuously to this occasion lasts
year, by the convention of the Governors of
the thirteen original States, who met to con-
slider the question, and as a result commits
sioners were appointed to meet in conven-
tion at Philadelphia to map out programme
and to elect the officers necessary to carry it
into effect This convention met December
I'd, 1886, and elected Hon. John A. Kasson Of
Iowa, President, and Hampton L. Carson,
Esq, of Philadelphia, Secretary will un-
dertake here to give only bief abstract of
the programme.
professional, industrial display, its object
being to illustrate, in contrast, the customs,
domestic characteristics, commerce, arts, i'm
plements of industry, means of transporta-
ton, &C., of 1887, and 1887, with view. by
object lessons, of demonstrating the changes
and national progress made in the first GEN.
tury of our constitutional existence. The
display is to be entirely professional, and
will be mounted upon cars prepared for tn @
purpose, and accompanied by various civic
organizations. In the evening, the Governor
of Pennsylvania will hold public reception
in honor of the Governors of the States and
Territories present.
The 10th of September is designed for mil
itary parade and review Of the militia Of the
several States and Territories present. Eff
fort will be made to show, by contrast, the
difference between military arms, equipments
and drill in 1887 and 1887. The cooperation
Of the Regular Army and Navy has been as
sured. In the evening will occur a public
reception in honor of the President Of the
| United States. The 18th of September, the
third and last day Of the celebration
will be devoted to the special
| services Of c0mmemoration, and the
President of the United States will pre-
| side. An oration will be pronounced by Mr..
| Justice Miller of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. There will also be poem,
national hymns, vocal and instrumental
music, and other entertainments appropriate
to the occasion. 1t is hoped that the occa-
sion will give brilliant testimony to the uni
| yersal attachment Of all classes of our peo-
| pie to the great Charter Of American Liber-
| ty, towhich we owe the unparalleled growth
/ and development Of the several States and
| the nation. Many of the State Legisl atuTes
/ have made appropriations of money to en-
able them to be creditably represented in
the great industrial and military displays Of
L tba oxn1 hn II Iauisl slatra of
| Massachusetts set apart large sum for this
| purpose. and the grand old Bay State which
then included Maine, so conspicuous In the
war for Independence, and so ably repre-
Sented, in the convention which founded the
| Constitution of the United States will be APP
| propriately represented in this celebration.
The legislature of this State made no pro-
| vision for part In this great industrial and
| military display; nor for representation OF
| any kind, but Gov. Bodwell is doing what he
| can to rectify the mistake, and though under
| the circumstances Names part must be
4 humble, yet the State will not go entirely by
default The Governor and Staff, and prob
| ably the Executive Council, will be present,
/ and a portion of the Maine militia, and 1t is
i hoped that large number Of Maine citizens
will attend. An industrial exhibit from this
/ State involves more serious question. III
the State is to be represented at all 1t must
| be by voluntary contributions. 1t will be
| borne in mind that the display Is not to be
| very general and is to be entirely process
| siOnal The marshal OF the occasion, Col. A.
LoudOn Snowden, announces that, as the
object in view is to present contrast
between hundred years ago and now, a
reproduction of the same article or illustra-
tion is not desirable. and suggests that in
| dividuals and firms engaged in the same
pursuit unite together and make combined
exhibit on as suggestive and comprehensive
a scale as possible. He further says: ''The
demonstration will not be permitted to de-
generate into a mere medium for advertis-
ing. Where proper advertising results from
the display Of handiwork or enterprise, it
will be encouraged, but not otherwise" His
circular closes with the following: "Appli-
cation for place in the procession, stating
the character of the display intended to be
made, should be sent to this office address
Col. A. LOudon Snowden, Chairman of Com
mittee and Marshal, City Hall, Philadel-
pha, Pa.), at the earliest date possible, in
order that proper classification may be
made"
Whether any industrial exhibit shall be
made by Maine Is question to be deter
mined by our manufacturers. In this state
ment have endeavored to set forth briefly
the character of the display to be made, and
the conditions to be complied with by ex-
hibitors Persons desiring to make exhibits
at their own expense will address the Mar
shal, as required in the preceding paragraph.
Efforts will be made for reduction Of rail-
way fares to those who attend, and of
freights, if anything is offered for exhibition,
and the results announced through the press
in due season.. VIM. B. LAPHAE,
Commissioner for Maine.
Augusta, Aug.S